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November/December 2007 issue	In this issue Table of Contents Feature: Top wildlife stories Feature: Legion halls Feature: Northern food Feature: Ice road The Inside Story Editor's Notebook Reverberations Explorer À la carte Mosaic

Ten minutes west of Parliament Hill, along the Ottawa River Parkway, you’ll find a watery gallery of limestone and granite sculptures that seem to defy gravity. “If you’ve ever played with Lego,” says 60-year-old John-Félice Ceprano, “this is a hell of a lot more fun.”

It’s fun to watch, too, as Ceprano lifts stones and slabs to create "rock balance art.” Visitors gather at Remic Rapids Park from July to October to see an expanding collection of sculptures as Ceprano adds to his creation using only materials found on-site.

Originally from Providence, Rhode Island, Ceprano studied physics with the goal of becoming a meteorologist. But he so enjoyed drawing daily weather maps, he decided, instead, to pursue a degree in fine arts at the University of Rhode Island. He spent his final year at the University of Ottawa, and the city captured his heart. Decades later, his work has become as much a community project as a personal one. Since 2000, it has been supported by the National Capital Commission, Ottawa’s federal land steward. But the heavy lifting has taken a toll on his body, and injuries to his feet and shoulders mean that he now occasionally works with assistants.

“My goal is to get people reconnected with nature and the environment,” says Ceprano. "Involving other people liberates the energy.”

For the rest of this story, visit your local newsstand or go to our store to buy this issue.

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